Colorado State Patrol, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 12, 1961
Age:
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 12, 1961
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Lieutenant Hiram Short was shot and killed while responding to an assistance call from a state wildlife officer on Route 40, near Kremmling, Colorado.
When Lieutenant Short arrived on the scene the suspect pulled out a handgun and opened fire, killing Lieutenant Short and wounding two other officers who were on the scene.
The suspect later shot and killed Deputy John Clark, of the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, during a foot pursuit. The suspect was apprehended hiding in sage brush near railroad tracks, and was sentenced to death. The suspect's sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison in 1999.
Lieutenant Short had served with the Colorado State Patrol for 15 years.